Aditya Raj Das / NEW DELHI
Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today emphasized that India has embarked on the path of a self-reliant economy and therefore has been successful in mitigating the negative effects of the pandemic.
Addressing the 7th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) via video conference from New Delhi today, FM said that despite exogenous threats, India’s well-targeted policy mix, accompanied by major structural reforms and sound external balance sheet, have aided its growth to remain resilient.
Addressing the theme ‘Financing Infrastructure in a Crisis-Prone World’, Mrs. Sitharaman appreciated AIIB for its continued commitment and dedication to assist members and for providing high-quality development finance.
She also underscored the remarkable progress India has made through its Digitalization Mission, utilizing technology to facilitate social protection and boost financial inclusion.
The Finance Minister also highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively leading India’s climate change response efforts through various programs such as ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ and among many others.
Every year at the Annual Meeting, the Board of Governors meets to take key decisions on important matters relating to AIIB, and its future vision.
India is a Founding Member and the second-largest shareholder in AIIB. India also has the largest project portfolio within AIIB. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting was ‘Sustainable Infrastructure Toward a Connected World’.